Credit: Matt Stone

Cambridge firefighters wrap up hoses after responding to a report of a gas leak in the Kendall Square area today, May 20, 2013.

Credit: Matt Stone

Cambridge firefighters wrap up hoses after responding to a report of a gas leak in the Kendall Square area on Monday, May 20, 2013.

Credit: Matt Stone

Cambridge firefighters wrap up hoses after responding to a report of a gas leak in the Kendall Square area on Monday, May 20, 2013.

Credit: Matt Stone

Cambridge firefighters wrap up hoses after responding to a report of a gas leak in the Kendall Square area on Monday, May 20, 2013.

Credit: Matt Stone

People evacuated after a report of gas leak in the Kendall Square area wait to be allowed back into their building on Monday, May 20, 2013.

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A construction crew’s backhoe severed a high-pressure gas main this morning in Kendall Square, forcing evacuations, road closures and disruption of MBTA Red Line service.

Cambridge fire and police crews are monitoring the air quality of three buildings in Kendall Square before letting tenants back inside.

Construction crews were digging an excavation site next to a building at 5 Cambridge Center when the backhoe hit the gas main shortly after 11 a.m., said Cambridge Deputy Fire Chief Lester Bokuniewicz. NStar has since shut down the gas.

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